Roi Perez issues statement in response to London party cancellation
The Isreal-born DJ was accused of "normalising" apartheid of Palestinians by throwing raves in his home country, which he has now clarified he is no longer a citizen of
Roi Perez has issued a statement in response to the cancellation of his headline show in London last week.
The DJ and LAUNDRETTE collective founder was set to perform an all-night-long show at London nightclub FOLD on October 10, however the party was cancelled by promoter Origins last week (September 25), amid backlash over Perez's perceived ties to Israel.
Ravers For Palestine published an essay on Instagram on September 24, accusing Perez of "normalising" Israel's apartheid of Palestinians and calling on promoters to remove him from line-ups.
The post alleged that Perez - who was born in Ashkelon and began his music career in Tel Aviv's queer scene - had played a role in "glamourising settler colonialism" by establishing his LAUNDRETTE parties and helping to attract international artists to play in the country.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, London-based promoter Origins issued a statement announcing that it had made the decision to cancel Perez's all-night-long show after a "reflection" on "concerns raised over his background."
In a statement shared via Instagram today (October 1), Perez addressed the claims made about him by Ravers for Palestine, writing: "I oppose the Israeli regime and its ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
"I no longer play in Israel, since October 2023 the only show I played there was our non-profit fundraiser," he continues. "I have no professional ties to the country, and I use my platform to fundraise, amplify Palestinian voices, and direct resources to Palestinian-led organisations. That commitment is public and ongoing".
"Growing up under occupation means being affected by propaganda from birth; questioning your surroundings isn't something you do overnight," he adds. "Neither is recognising how an active role in the city's nightlife is contributing to the normalisation".
Perez added that he has been on a path of "rejecting the system" he was raised in, adding: "Ten years ago, I left Israel, cancelled my residency rights and ceased to contribute tax money to that country. That shift only became possible once I was exposed to other voices and perspectives."
The DJ goes on to criticise the circulation of "artists and clubs with the intention to isolate them," adding his belief that such tactics create "fear, fracture communities, and silence people who are already committed to the cause".
"I will continue to use the dancefloor as a space of resistance, joy, and solidarity," he continues. "Queer nightlife has always been political, and I believe in its power to bring people together against systems of oppression".
"To everyone who bought a ticket: I'm sorry. I was looking forward to sharing the night with you."
Read the full statement below.
Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter